i know that president obama is expected to speak here in a very short time giving some remarks about the loss of nelson mandela and what it means to the world. >> i want to share very quickly what some of the united states presidents in the past have said about mandela because he had met with several of them during his time when he came to the united states. in 1990 george l.w. bush called mandela a man who embodies the hopes of millions at a meeting at the white house. of course, there is that infamous picture of bill clinton with mandela in 1998 when clinton went to visit mandela and mandela showed the president the jail cell where he spent 17 years under incarceration by the government. it was a total of 20 years in prison. in 2002 president george w. bush awarded mandela with a presidential medal of freedom and president obama met with mandela once back when he was a senator in 2005. so right now as we await for the president to speak about the passing of nelson mandela. >> i know it will be some heartfelt remarks from the president because when you think about it, it's this nati